Adjustable arm-rest

ABSTRACT

An arm-rest which can be readily adjusted vertically and laterally and intended, for instance, for a toilet or lavatory seat, and which has few movable parts. A positionally adjustable arm-rest includes an arm-rest part and a frame-part, wherein one end (1) of the arm-support part is inserted together with two surrounding slide blocks (5) into the frame-part (3) enabling the arm-support part to be retained in its raised or lowered position. With the arm-rest in an essentially non-loaded state, the slide blocks (5) fix and hold the arm-rest in a horizontal position. The end of the arm-rest also includes a pressure surface (6) which acts against the inner surface of the frame-part so that the arm-rest will not give way when subjected to load. The user can readily adjust the position of the arm-rest by gripping the part and swinging it slightly upwards while moving the same to the position desired. When the end of the arm-rest has been moved to the height desired, it is released and swung back and now fixed in position to be subjected to load. Lateral adjustment of the arm-rest is achieved by the frame-part (3) resting on a rotatably adjustable floor plate (16), or being rotatably mounted to a wall structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adjustable arm-rest intendedpreferably for toilet, or lavatory seats. The arm-rest includes anarm-rest part and a frame-part, wherein the arm-rest part isdisplaceable in the vertically extending frame-part and is self-lockingin its adjusted position, and wherein the frame-part is pivotallyadjustable.

DESCRIPTION OF TEE BACKGROUND ART

Adjustable arm-rests are common features of toilet seats for handicaptoilets, and facilitate the use of such toilets for handicapped persons,as evident from SE-C-372 223 for instance. In this latter case, avertically displaceable arm is balanced with the aid of a counterweight,which is connected to an arm-part that projects into a frame-part, bymeans of a line which runs over guide rollers. The provision of thisbalancing arrangement requires a relatively large amount of space in thevertical frame-part and also results in slightly unstable journalling ofthe arm, this instability being noticeable even when the arm is in itsarrested vertical position.

Although this instability has been avoided by providing the inner end ofthe arm with a transversely extending wing or plate (see SE-C-465 997),the arrangement required herewith renders the construction relativelycomplicated and expensive. Furthermore, no solution has been proposedwith regard to the space-requiring problem of the balancing arrangement,and the vertical frame-part consequently has large cross-sectionaldimensions. The work involved in fitting the arm-rest is also highlytile-consuming in the case of the known balancing arrangement. Pivotalarm-rests are known from SE-C-464 165. a foot plate provided with twolocking shoulders mounted forwardly of the frame-part are intended tocoact with a locking pin which is maneuvered with the aid of a pull rodmounted externally on the front side of the frame-part. Although thistype of locking arrangement has been found satisfactory, it isencumbered with the drawback of occupying an excessively large amount ofspace. Another drawback is that the known arrangement is difficult tokeep clean and the maneuvering ball is difficult to reach in the case ofsome users. A journal pin and a journalling sleeve mounted behind theframe-part further amplifies the drawbacks of the known an-rest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the intention of providing an arm rest which can be readilyadjusted vertically and laterally and intended, for instance, for atoilet or lavatory seat, and which has but few movable parts, there isprovided a positionally adjustable arm-rest which includes an arm-restpart and a frame-part, wherein one end of the arm-support part isinserted together with two surrounding slide blocks into the frame-partsuch as to enable said arm-support part to be retained in its raised orlowered position. The slide blocks are provided on their bottom edgeswith a respective spring-accommodating opening, and the arm-rest part isconstructed so that the slide blocks are able to secure the arm-rest ina horizontal position and to retain said arm-rest in said position whenessentially no load acts on the arm-rest. The end of the arm-rest alsoincludes a pressure surface which acts against the inner surface of theframe-part so that the arm-rest will not give way when subjected toload. A reinforcement plate may be placed between said end of thearm-rest and the inner surface of the frame-part so as to reduce theeffect of pressure by distributing the pressure onto the inner surfaceof the frame-part, without damaging said inner surface. Thisconstruction enables the user to readily adjust the position of thearm-rest. All that is required in this regard is for the user to gripthe arm-rest part and swing it slightly upwards while moving the same tothe position desired. The only resistance that need be overcome is thatwhich corresponds to the holding force of the two slide locks. When theend of the arm-rest has been moved to the height desired, the arm-restpart is released and swung back. The arm-rest part can now be fixed inposition and subjected to load, by virtue or the pressure surface onsaid end of the arm-rest. Lateral adjustment of the arm-rest is achievedby virtue of the frame-part resting on a rotatably adjustable floorplate, or being rotatably mounted on a wall structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrates an inventive adjustable arm-rest.

FIGS. 2A-2G illustrates the parts f or vertical adjustment of thearm-rest Shown in FIG. 1 in more detail.

FIGS. 3A-3D shows the parts for lateral adjustment of the arm-rest shownn FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION AT PRESENT PREFERRED

FIG. 1 illustrates the means by which an inventive arm-rest can beadjusted. Shown in the Figure is a part 1, of an elongated body whichmay be provided with an arm-rest surface. The part 1, which is comprisedof one end of the elongated body, is inserted through a slot 2 in ahollow frame part 3 having a square internal shape, and is pivotallyjoined by means of a pin 4 to slide blocks 5 mounted on respective sidesof the frame-part. When load is exerted on the arm-rest with thearm-rest generally horizontal, the rear side 6 of the arm-rest willpress against a reinforcing plate 7 which in turn presses against theinner surface of the frame part 3, therewith fixing the arm-rest in itsvertical position. In order to prevent the end of the arm-rest beinglowered or raised by pivoting the arm-rest upwards from its horizontalposition, which would mean that the rear side 6 no longer pressesagainst the reinforcement plate 7 and the inner wall of the frame part,the bottom edges of the slide blocks 5 that face inwardly towards theinner wall of the post have been provided with a respective opening 8which accommodates a spring 9. With a correctly dimensioned spring 9mounted in the opening a of respective slide blocks, the outer surface10 of the bottom edges can be pressed against the inner surface of theframe-part, wherewith the slide blocks will always be secured in theframe part when no load acts on the arm-rest, so as to enable the heightof the arm-rest to be adjusted prior to subjecting the arm-rest to load.When adjusting the height of the arm-rest, the arm-rest is lifted orlowered by manually angling or, pivoting the arm-rest upwards slightlyto the position required, this manual force required easily overcomingthe frictional force of the slide blocks against the inner wall. Shouldthe user raise a handle unintentionally, the position of the arm-restwill remain fixed without the rear side of the arm-rest Dressing againstthe plate and the inner wall. The upper T-shaped part of the plate isplaced in arm upper recess in respective slide blocks. In order to limitthe movement of the arm-rest in the frame part, there can be inserted inthe groove 2 a stop means which includes a plate 11 and with which arunner having a screw means 12 or the like functions to fix the stopmeans in position. The bottom edge of the arm-rest may be provided witha recess 13 or some like aperture for accommodating the edge of the stopmeans.

The frame-part 3 of the arm-rest may be mounted on a rotatable post 14or pivotally mounted on a wall. With the frame-part of the arm-restmounted on the pillar 14 with a disc-shaped bottom part 15 havingdownwardly directed circular openings adapted to fit a floor-mounteddisc 16 provided with screw heads or the like which fit into theopenings, the frame part carrying the arm-rest part can be rotatedstepwise to adjust the position of the arm-rest.

We claim:
 1. An adjustable arm-rest which includes an arm-rest part anda frame-part, with one end of the arm-rest part inserted through a slot(2) in the frame part and there pivotally connected by a pin tosurrounding elements, wherein said one end includes a pressure surfacefor action against an inner surface of the frame part, characterized inthat the surrounding elements have the form of slide blocks (5) providedwith spring means (9) and adapted to fix the arm-rest part (1) inposition when no load acts on said arm-rest part; and in that saidpressure surf ace (6) on said one end of the arm-rest part is adapted tofix the arm-rest part (1) in a lowered position when the arm-rest part(1) is subjected to load.
 2. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim1, characterized in that each slide block (5) is provided with anopening (8) which faces an inner surface of the frame-part; and in thatsaid opening (8) has fitted therein said spring means (9) whichfunctions to press an outer surface (10) of said slide block (5) againstthe inner surface of said frame-part.
 3. An adjustment arm-restaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the frame part (3) ispivotally and adjustably mounted on a wall structure.
 4. An adjustablearm-rest according to claim 3, characterized in that there is mounted inslot (2) a stop means which includes a plate (11) and a runner providedwith screw means (12).
 5. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 4,characterized in that the end (1) of said arm-rest part is provided withan opening (13) whose size corresponds to the width of the plate (11).6. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe frame part (3) is pivotally and adjustably mounted on a post (14).7. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe post (14) rests on a floor plate (16) having raised parts which areintended to fit into corresponding recesses on a post-mounted plate(15).
 8. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 7, characterized inthat there is mounted in the slot (2) a stop means which includes aplate (11) and a runner provided with screw means (12).
 9. An adjustablearm-rest according to claim 1, characterized in that each slide block(5) has an upper part which includes a recess (17) which faces towardsan inner surface of the frame part and which accommodates a downwardlysuspended reinforcement plate (7).
 10. An adjustment arm-rest accordingto claim 9, characterized in that the frame part (3) is pivotally andadjustably mounted on a wall structure.
 11. An adjustable arm-restaccording to claim 9, characterized in that the frame part (3) ispivotally and adjustably mounted on a post (14).
 12. An adjustablearm-rest according to claim 11, characterized in that the post (14)rests on a floor plate (16) having raised parts which are intended tofit into corresponding recesses on a post-mounted plate (15).
 13. Anadjustable arm-rest according to claim 12, characterized in that thereis mounted in the slot (2) a stop means which includes a plate (11) anda runner provided with screw means (12).
 14. An adjustable arm-restaccording to claim 13, characterized in that the end (1) of saidarm-rest part is provided with an opening (13) whose size corresponds tothe width of the plate (11).
 15. An adjustment arm-rest according toclaim 1, characterized in that the frame part (3) is pivotally andadjustably mounted on a wall structure.
 16. An adjustable arm-restaccording to claim 15, characterized in that there is mounted in theslot (2) a stop means which includes a plate (11) and a runner providedwith screw means (12).
 17. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 16,characterized in that the end (1) of said arm-rest part is provided withan opening (13) whose size corresponds to the width of the plate (11).18. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 9, characterized in thatthe frame part (3) is pivotally and adjustably mounted on a post (14).19. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 18, characterized in thatthe post (14) rests on a floor plate (16) having raised parts which areintended to fit into corresponding recesses on a post-mounted plate(15).
 20. An adjustable arm-rest according to claim 19, characterized inthat there is mounted in the slot (2) a stop means which includes aplate (11) and a runner provided with screw means (12).